The Insane Tale of Nikon’s Cancelled DL Compact Cameras and Why it Merits Every other Bankruptcy

Let’s take a adventure again to February 2016. DSLR cameras are a large factor, even Sony remains to be making them. Nikon declares the flagship D5 and the powerhouse D500. Nikon additionally unveils an all-new sequence of top rate Kind 1 compact cameras: the DL Sequence. However they by no means in reality arrived.

Introducing the Nikon DL Sequence

On February 23, 2016, whilst nonetheless basking within the afterglow of showing the outstanding D5 and D500 DSLR cameras, Nikon took the wraps off its subsequent large factor, 3 DL Sequence top rate compact cameras.

Three Nikon cameras of varying sizes and lens types are displayed side by side on a glossy black surface with a dark, gradient background. — The Nikon DL Sequence of compact cameras had been unveiled in February 2016. By means of the next February, after a large number of delays, Nikon would cancel the mission altogether. | Nikon

Nikon’s DL Sequence comprised the DL 18-50mm f/1.8-2.8, the DL 24-85mm f/1.8-2.8, and the DL 24-500mm f/2.8-5.6. Each and every digital camera featured the similar 20.8-megapixel Nikon CX-format Kind 1 BSI CMOS symbol sensor and Expeed 6A symbol processor. All 3 cameras promised steady capturing at as much as 60 frames in line with 2d, or 20 frames in line with 2d with steady autofocus.

Each and every of the 3 Nikon DL Sequence cameras, particularly the 2 with the shorter, quicker lenses, embraced top rate fabrics and high-end construct high quality. The 2 smaller point-and-shoots unnoticed an EVF, opting as a substitute for an add-on accent EVF, whilst the DL 24-500mm f/2.8-5.6 integrated one.

The Nikon DL 18-50 f/1.8-2.8 in its silver end is an overly hanging digital camera.

It’s price in short shouting out the Nikon DL dressmaker, Kenji Abe, who crafted a really gorgeous sequence of compact cameras. Sadly, they by no means noticed the sunshine of day. By means of the way in which, Abe additionally designed the Nikkor Z 24-50mm, a compact zoom lens launched in 2020.

The Nikon DL 18-50, DL 24-85, and DL 24-500 had been anticipated to release only some months after their expose for $850, $650, and $1,000, respectively.

Clearly that by no means took place.

Even the chunky Nikon DL 24-500mm f/2.8-5.6 seemed just right.

Why the Nikon DL Sequence Died Prior to it Ever In point of fact Lived

The timing of the Nikon DL’s arrival may rarely had been worse. Not up to 12 months after it unveiled its 3 debut DL cameras and after a large number of delays, Nikon canceled them.

As CIPA’s 2016 information presentations, just about 12.6 million cameras with integrated lenses had been shipped that yr. That may sound like so much, as that’s much more than the overall selection of cameras shipped final yr, however it’s about one-tenth the overall selection of cameras with integrated lenses that had been shipped in 2010.

The compact digital camera marketplace collapsed proper round the similar time Nikon unveiled its trio of DL Sequence cameras. The digital camera business on the whole was once truly going via it proper as Nikon unveiled its subsequent large factor.

Top view of a black digital camera with a protruding lens. The controls, dials, and labels such as — Nikon DL 24-85 f/1.8-2.8

Whilst the bottoming-out compact digital camera marketplace was once an issue for the Nikon DL cameras in particular, some other massive drawback Nikon confronted was once that it was once hemorrhaging cash.

Positive, Nikon simply misplaced a report amount of cash final fiscal yr, however that’s not anything in comparison to the dire monetary straits Nikon was once dealing with a decade in the past. The whole thing was once going unsuitable on the identical time, and possibilities seemed grim.

Taking Nikon at its phrase, its personal struggles are some other large explanation why it canceled the DL Sequence. Nikon’s cancellation realize from February 13, 2017, is even nonetheless on-line, which isn’t the case for the awareness it printed that very same day about company-wide restructuring within the face of “atypical [financial] loss.”

“Nikon Company introduced these days that gross sales of the long-awaited DL sequence of top rate compact digital camera, the DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8, DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8, and DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6, might be canceled,” Nikon stated on February 13, 2017.

“A June 2016 unencumber was once at the start deliberate for the DL sequence. Then again, with the identity of problems with the built-in circuit for symbol processing, unencumber of the 3 cameras was once behind schedule indeterminately.

“Since then, everybody concerned has labored very tough to increase merchandise with which our shoppers might be glad. Then again, it’s been made up our minds that gross sales of the DL sequence might be canceled because of considerations referring to their profitability taking into consideration the rise in building prices, and the drop within the selection of anticipated gross sales because of the slow-down of the marketplace.

“We sincerely say sorry to all the ones suffering from this choice, particularly the ones shoppers who waited goodbye for the cameras to be launched, outlets and others whose industry might be affected, for the inconvenience this choice might motive.”

Cameras, particularly brand-new ones, take years to increase, and I’m hard-pressed to consider that Nikon can have picked a worse second within the virtual digital camera business’s historical past to make 3 new top rate compact cameras from scratch.

Was once it dangerous good fortune or dangerous making plans? It’s tough to mention, and it doesn’t essentially subject very a lot.

The KeyMission Issue

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out right here that later in 2016, Nikon unveiled its complete slate of KeyMission sequence motion cameras. A large reason why such a lot of other people these days have forgotten concerning the failure of the Nikon DL Sequence is the even higher failure of the KeyMission sequence.

Then again, not like the Nikon DL cameras, the KeyMission motion cameras in reality hit the marketplace and promptly flopped.

nikon keymission 360 action camera on a white background. black camera with a prominent front lens. — Nikon KeyMission 360 | Nikon

In 2024, writing about how Nikon had discovered its as far back as profitability, I described the KeyMission cameras as Nikon’s “worst misstep of the twenty first century.” I stand by way of that, and the colossal failure of KeyMission without a doubt overshadowed the DL Sequence.

Not up to 3 years after Nikon made its large KeyMission splash, the sequence was once kaput. Even quicker than that, despite the fact that, Nikon appeared prepared to overlook it ever took place. In its 2017 annual monetary document, KeyMission was once slightly a footnote. An lively, still-in-production digital camera sequence relegated to the margins only a yr after it arrived. Oof.

Possibly the Time Is Proper to Check out Once more

Whilst the compact digital camera marketplace has now not come anyplace on the subject of achieving the heights of its reputation once more, there’s no query that compact cameras are discovering good fortune these days that might have appeared inconceivable even simply 5 years in the past.

Photographers are purchasing ultra-cheap and top rate compact cameras alike in large numbers presently, and feature been for a couple of years now.

There are the most obvious wreck hits just like the Fujifilm X100V and X100VI, the latter of which stays tough to search out in inventory just about two and a part years after its release, and the Ricoh GR Sequence. However even very pricey cameras just like the Leica Q3 fashions are promoting neatly.

At the a lot decrease finish of the dimensions, Kodak-branded PixPro fashions are promoting like scorching desserts. The Kodak PixPro FZ55 was once the best-selling virtual digital camera of 2025 at Map Digital camera in Japan, for instance. It’s now not the exception to the rule of thumb, both. Compact cameras are extremely popular presently.

Would Nikon check out once more? Must Nikon check out once more? There are rumblings Nikon is considering a DL Sequence resurrection, prioritizing a top rate construct and rapid, stacked Kind 1 symbol sensor.

I might completely perceive if Nikon desires to be very conservative with any significant funding within the compact digital camera house. Nikon wouldn’t be the one one. Nikon’s monetary scenario isn’t precisely unbelievable presently, and the corporate has its fingers complete seeking to promote Nikon Z-series mirrorless cameras and amplify its cinema portfolio.

The ones are nice causes for Nikon now not to take a look at its DL experiment once more, to not point out the truth that the primary try went so horribly, extraordinarily unsuitable.

However there also are compelling the reason why Nikon may wish to take some other swing.

Close-up views of different camera dials and buttons, showing textured surfaces, labels, and control details on modern and retro-style camera bodies against dark backgrounds. — The Nikon DL Sequence cameras had nice designs and craftsmanship

The corporate’s vintage-inspired Zf and Zfc cameras have carried out rather well by way of leveraging Nikon’s wealthy heritage with reasonably tame specs. A compact, all-in-one digital camera with those self same vibes may completely in finding an target audience.

Nikon’s competition have proven for years that there’s nonetheless cash to be made within the compact digital camera house, and it’s good to simply as simply use Nikon’s present monetary scenario as a explanation why it will have to unencumber a brand new compact digital camera, fairly than a reason why to not. Nikon wishes cash. Fujifilm and Ricoh are making it surrender fist by way of promoting top rate compact cameras that price upwards of $2,000.

Nikon doesn’t even essentially want to goal that APS-C section, both. There’s an actual dearth of recent top rate, high quality compact point-and-shoot cameras with smaller sensors.

Sony hasn’t launched a brand new RX100 fashion for the reason that RX100 VII in 2019. Canon’s PowerShot G7X Mark III, which continues to promote in absurd amounts, arrived that very same yr.

A Nikon digital camera with a large lens and viewfinder is angled against a light blue gradient background. The camera has control dials on top and a textured grip on the right side. — Nikon DL 18-50 f/1.8-2.8 with its not obligatory EVF

Frankly, at the moment, Canon and Sony alike had been successfully seeking to extricate themselves from the compact digital camera house, having witnessed the business’s near-complete cave in. Now every corporation is making an attempt to determine get again in, and whether or not it’s price it.

Possibly Nikon may beat each to the punch with a brand new DL digital camera that mixes a quick lens (suppose a 24-100mm f/2-2.8 sort zoom), a vintage-inspired design, and top rate fabrics for round $1,000. A digital camera with fashionable picture and video options, class-leading efficiency, and Nikon’s wealthy heritage may really be one thing particular. And if Nikon may enforce an EVF, although it’s a removable one like Nikon was once going to do with its DL cameras, that might be superb. And convey again Kenji Abe to design it.

A sleek black Nikon compact camera with a lens marked “NIKKOR,” shown from above on a dark surface. The top dials, lens, and buttons are clearly visible. — Kenji Abe beaten it with the Nikon DL designs

When the unique Nikon DL Sequence fashions had been introduced after which therefore canceled, Nikon was once making an attempt to go into a crowded, collapsing marketplace. Now the marketplace is rising once more, and there are a long way fewer gamers vying for a work of the pie.

Nikon, the time to take a look at once more is now. The Nikon DL Sequence merits a happier finishing than the only it were given.

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